With Zuffa contract complete, former Strikeforce boss plans to travel, not promote

Several weeks ago, Scott Coker’s contract with UFC parent Zuffa came to an end, freeing the longtime promoter to pursue other interests.

Right now, however, those interests are not related to MMA. The former Strikeforce head, who in 2011 sold his promotion to UFC parent company Zuffa, told MMAjunkie he plans to travel and see what the world has to offer before even considering a jump back into MMA.

“The phone’s been ringing, but I’m not going to take something that’s just out there because I feel like I have to do it,” Coker said. “It has to be the right deal, and it has to be the right deal for me, because I think I could bring a lot of value to a company. I’m not in a hurry.”

Coker inked a three-year contract to work for Zuffa as part of the industry-leader’s buyout of Strikeforce, which came at reported price tag of $40 million. Initially, he continued to represent the promotion at events before stepping behind the scenes in 2012. Zuffa folded Strikeforce in January 2013 and absorbed its fighter roster into the UFC.

Coker’s contract does not contain a non-compete clause, meaning he isn’t restricted from promoting MMA.

The end of Strikeforce as an independent organization helped push Bellator into the de facto No. 2 position behind the UFC while also creating a perception that the industry-leader was closer than ever to a monopoly. In fact, the sale of the San Jose, Calif.-based promotion was the catalyst for an FTC investigation.

The government in early 2012 ruled that Zuffa’s role in the MMA industry did not meet the standard of a monopoly.

In its heyday, the promotion Coker started as a kickboxing showcase broke the North American attendance record for MMA and drew over one million viewers as a Showtime property. It spawned the careers of several current UFC stars, including Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Tarec Saffiedine.

Although the Zuffa buyout didn’t come without a certain amount of bittersweet feelings, Coker feels positive about his time with the industry-leader.

“My tenure with the UFC is completed, and I will say this, everything they said they were going to do, they did,” he said. “I have a lot of friends there that I developed over the last three years, and I wish them luck and much success.”

As to whether he still has the passion to work in MMA, Coker insists his love for the sport remains strong. But he also is realistic about the investment needed to run a successful promotion, which is why the urgency to return to his old job isn’t there at the moment.

“I think my track record not just in MMA but martial arts, I’ve proven that I’ve contributed a lot of my life to it,” he said. “I’ve sacrificed a lot, and so yes, I still love martial arts. It’s something I still have passion for.

“But the other side of it is it’s a very time consuming proposition when you’re in this business, and it’s draining and it affects everything from your household to your family. It’s a business that when you’re in it, it’s a 24/7 business. There’s really no time off, and from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed, you’ve got to be in the zone to run your company. So there’s a lot of sacrifice.

“Right now, I’m going to do a little traveling with [my girlfriend] and see some countries we haven’t seen.”

For the latest on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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